Mowing-machine.



A. M. LEONI.

MOWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.18,190B. @l Mtented Apr. 20, 1909 2 SHEBTS-SEEBT1.

TTOHNE YS A. M. LEONI.

MOWING MACHINE. l APPLICATION FILED APR. 1s, 190B.

Patented A191120, 1909.

SHEETS-SHEET 42.

such as mowing machinesor similar implevconsidered as having twocomponents, one of l which will operate in such a way as topreprevented.

`Highland, in the county-of Ulster and State JUNr'rED s'rAT'Es .ALPHONSEM. LEONL'OF HIGHLAND, NEW

PATENT onirica.,

YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE AGRICULTURAL MACHINES IMPROVEMENT COMPANY, OF NEWYORK, N'. Y., A CORPORATION vOF New YORK;

No. e 19,039.

Application ined April 1s,

lo all whom may concern:

,Be it known that'l., ALPHONSE M. LEONI, a subject of the King of Italy,and a resident of of New York, have invented a new and IinprovedMo'wing-Machine, of which the folL lowing is a full, clear, andexactdescription. This invention relates to farm implements ments whichare drawn by horses in harvesting or planting. v, f

More specifically, the invention -relates to a mowing machine. Thesemachines are usually constructed in such a way that the power fordriving the mower bar is derived from the wheels of the machine, so thatthe4 work performed by the draft animals may be which l is the worklnecessary to drive the implement, while the other is the work necessaryto drive the mower bar or cutter. This is not an advantageousarrangement, as the' speed of the operation of the mower bar. isydirectly dependent upon' the speed of ad-v vance of the implement.These two factors should be independent. of each other, as the grain .orgrass being cnt may be unusually thick 0r closely planted at a pointwhere it is not feasible to drivethe implement at a high speed.

The object of this invention is to provide an arrangement whereby themower bar or cutter may be driven entirely independently of the speed ofadvance of the implement.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide an arrangement ofmechanism for transmittingl the driving force to the cutter bar,

vent injury to the teeth ofthe cutter when obstructions such as stonesorvthe like, bei come caught inthe teeth. This'mechanism 1 operatesautomatically to throw thedriving mechanism of the cutter bar out ofoperation. In this way accidents to the cutter bar and other parts ofthe machinery are The invention consists in the construction andcombination of parts tobe more fully described hereinafter andparticularly seti forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompany- Sp'ecicaton of Letters-Patent.

Memisa-MACHINE..

Patented April 2o, 1909.,

190s. serial No. 427,775.

indicate corresponding parts in all' the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan of a machine constructed 'according to my invention,parts of the tongue and mower b'ar beingbroken away, and the releasinglever for the driving mechanism of the mower bar being shown in crosssection Fig. 2 is a-vertical section on tion', in which similarcharacters of reference the line 2 2 of Fig.' 1; and Fig. 3 is a detailview further illustrating the automatic mechanism for disengaging thedrive of the mower bar.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 1 represents the frame of themachine,

whichtis mounted upon wheels 2 of 'usual' form. These wheels, however,are not connected with any of the mechanism of the implement, but simplysupport it. From the frame 1 a tongue 3 extends forwardly, tovwhichhorses or other draft animals may be hitched in the usual manner.

To rthe rear of the frame l in alinement with the pole or tongue 3, aseat post A: is provided, having'a seat 5 upon which' the driverv sits.'At the left` of the machine,` that is, toward the end of the frame 1which lies opposite to the pole 3, an engine frame 6 is securelyattached to the, frame 1, and in this, frame there is mounted a crankshaft 7, the' crank S whereof is driven by the piston 9 reciprocating inthe cylinder 10 of a gas -engine 11. The cylinder 1() is seatv ed uponthe upper side of the frame 6.

The forward end of the crank shaft is pro.-

vided with a gear Wheel 13fwhich meshes with a similar gear wheel 1ewhich is rigidly attached to a stub shaft 15 which is mounted intheframe 6 below the shaft 7, as indicated- 'The gear 14 is connected to areduced necli 1 16 of the shaft 15 by means of a suitable .key 17 asshown. The gear wheel 1e is formed integral with an enlarged vhub 1:8whichhas teeth 19 as`sl1own, so that the hub constitutes a clutchmember. gine frame-at this part is formed into .a 4closed gear lcase orclutch case 20, and from .the outer side of'this clutch case a tubularbearing 21 extends forwardly, the Ksame ing drawings forming a part ofthis speciiiea-v bei-ng in alinement with the stub shaft '15.

The fen-i l5 usual form.

In the forward end of this tubularbearing 21 a bushing 22 is mounted,and rotatably set in this bushing a stub shaft 23 is provided. ThisshaftA has a circumferential groove 24 formed therein, which affords.means for holding the shaft in position through the medium of aplurality 'of balls 25, the said balls being held in position by follwerscrews 26, as indicated in Fig. 2.

The stub shaft 23 carries rigidlya crank,y

disk 27 having awrist pin 28 to which is attached the pitman y29 whichoperates the cutter bar 30. This`\cutter bar30 forms a part of the mowerbar 31, which isof the The mower bar comprises the usual guard fingers32 through which the triangular blades 33 of the cutterbar reciprocate'.The inner end of the tubular bearing 21 is provided with a bushing 34 inwhich there is rotatably and slidably mounted a clutch shaft-.35. 'Theinner partl of this clutch shaft has an angular neck 36, which may be ofsquare form as indicated, and the 'inner extremity of the shaft isformed into a reduced neck 37 which is rotatably mounted in a bore 38formed 'in the neck 16 aforesaid. It should be understood that the neck37 is fitted loosely into the bore 38 so that the shaft 35 may shiftlongitudinally as well as rotate.`, On the round part of the shaft 35near the square neck 36 a trip disk 39 is rigidly attached by means of aset screw 40, and on the square neck 36 there is slidably mounted aclutc member 41 which has clutch teeth 42 similar to the clutch teeth 19of the clutch member 18. The arrangement is such that when the teeth ofthese clutch members arein en- .'gagement, the rotation of .the crankshaft 7 may be transmitted to the clutch shaft 35. It should beunderstood, however, that if theclutch member 41 is slid longitudinallytoward the position in which it is yindicated .in dotted outlines, theclutch will be thrown' open and the engine and driving mechanism will bedisconnected from the shaft 35. The clutch shaft 35 affords means fordriving the stub shaft 23 through the medium of a lhelical spring orflexible connection 43, and it should -be understood that the directionof driving is such as to subject the-spring to a tensile force and notto a compressing force. In other words, the rotating shaft 35 pulls thestub shaft 23 so that they will rotate inunison. The ends of the springare attached to the ends of the shafts which it connects, in anysuitable manner, such as that' shown.

ln the lower part of the gear case 20 a pivot pin 44 is provided, whichconstitutes the fu crum for a shifting lever 45, which extends upwardlythrough the 'case and passes through a slot 46 in the upper sidereleasing vward wal thereof. f To the forward side of this lever aspring 47 is' attached, the opposite end of which springis attadhed tothe case, and this spring tends to pull the lever forward in such a wayas to open the clutch, as will be readily understood. At the slot 46there is provided tent 48, the forwar end of which s ring is Valongitudinally dis osed leaf spring or derigidly attached to the lc over49 of t e case. y

The cover and the spring are slightly curved or bowed as shown, and thespring tends to move upwardly at its free end, at which point the underside ofthe spring i's provided with a stirru A50. y This 'stirrupprojects downwardly rom the vunder side of. the spring, and is providedwith an opening 51 for a purpose which will arpear more fullyhereinafter. The lever a jacent to the spring 48 presents a shoulder 52having aV face 53 which is adapted to slide along on the outer side ofthe spring-48, and this shoulder also presents a face 54 substantiallyat right angles to the face 53. The arrangement is such that if thelever lbe moved toward the left to the limit of its movement, as inclosing Athe clutch, the detent 48 will spring up into position so thatthe end of the detent presents ltself against the face 54 sov as toprevent the*- lever from being pulled back by the s ring 47. This detentor spring '48 will be pul ed down automatically if. an obstruction comesbe tween the teeth of the cuttery at the 1nower bar. For. this urpose lprovide a rocker 55 which is ivota y mounted at 56 on the inner side oft e case 20, and thisnrocker hhas a finger 57 which projects into theopening 5 1 ofthe stirrup. `This rocker is further provided with adownwardly extending arm 58, f

and this arm 58 has an opening in which is mounted a horizontal stem 59which passes to the exterior of the case 20 through the forward wallthereof, as indicated'. The pro.

jecting end of this stem has a pin-and-slot connection 60 with areleasing toe 61, which Vtoe is pivoted at 62, the lower end of the toelying adjacent to a releasing pin 63. This of the case, and projectsinto the interior thereof. The inner end of the pin 63 is formed into ahead 64 whichl forms a socket for a ball 65, and this ball lies at ornear the forward face of the trip disk 39. A spring 66 is disposedaround the pin 63 between .the

head 64 and the wall of the case, and tends l to hold the pin in anextreme inward position.

On account of the fact that the transmission to the mower bar iseffected through the spring 43, it follows thatrif an obstruction comesbetween the teeth of the mower bar so as to 'arrest the movement of thecutter bar, the s ring 43 will become abnormally twiste and this willshorten its length in l 1pin is slidably mounted in thel forsuch a waythat the clutch shaft 35 will be L' drawn forwardly. When this occursthe forywird Side of the. rip-'disk se saires alabar 65 and pushes thepin 63 forwardly. This movementis transmitted through the toe 61 andstein 59 to the rocker 55. In this Way the finger 57 lof the rockerWillhe pulled downwardly'. ,T his dr-aws thefree end of the '-detent 48downwardly and releases the shoulder 52.

ull the lever over to the position in whichit is shown in dotted linesin Fig.'2. The lowery end of this lever is formed into a yoke 67 havingpins 68 which are receivedin a groove 69 the'detent 48- from the lever.

formed onV the outer face of the clutch inem-- her 41, asindicated. Inthis way Vtheclutch opens automatically. so `as .to prevent'in'jury.

to the cutter. ln4 addition to this`,'I provide hand-releasingmechanisml for disengaging For this purpose, on the 'u per end of thehand lever 45 I provide a grip ever70 which isprovided'with @a link 71the lower end of which "isattached' to a sliding collar 72 moving on thelever. This-collar is connected by alink 7 3 with a sliding shoe 74which is guided in a guide` bracket r75 attached to the side of thelever. The shoe 74 is formed with a nose which is" adapted to restagainst the upper side of the free end ofthe detent v48 when the leveris locked, as indicated in Fig. 3.. By operating the grip lever -70 theshoe 74 may be de pressed so as to force thedetent 48downwai-diy ast theshoulder 52; It shouldhe observej that the opening 51 in the stirrup 50is quitelarge, so that the depressing of the detent in this manner doesnot affect" the rocker -55 or the parts connected therewith.

The spring 76 which' is .attached to the grip lever 70 normally holdsthe collar 72 and the shoe 74m their most elevated position. The

link 71 is provided 'with a guide stud 77.

which passes through a guide slot 78 formed in the iand lever as shown.

A Referring again to the stub shaft 15 as indicated in F ig. 2 this stubshaft is' mounted in a bushing 79, and the shaft is with acircumferential groove 80 similar' to the groove 24 of the shaft 23. 'Aplurality of balls 81 are set in this groove and niounted in thebushing, being held in position hy follower screns 82.as indicated.` Y

While I have described tlieineans for driving the mower har as agasolene engine, it should be understood that l may use a primev -moverof any kind for this purpose; and

special attention is called to the independence of the movement of thevehicle and the movement of the mrfer 1car. Tihe engine or other motorwhich drives the iiiorfer hariz ill have the usual accessories, so thatits operation can he completely controlled. If the motor is a gas engineas suggested, the supply tank 83 of gasolene is very convenientlylocated on the rear end of thetongue just forward of the drivers seat.Evidently, the

The spring 447 then operates to yclaim as net/ and desire to rovidedmachine may he driven at any speed desired, and the work which' willhedonel hy the draft animals is simply that necessary to draw thevehicle along. All the 'work of cutting the .standing crop is done bvthe engines n order -to`reduce the friction atthedisk 27,

,antifiiction halls 874 are providedfwhich'run lontheinner face ef thedislr,'beiiig mounted in a hall-race or groove 85 ori-the for-.vard endof the bushi-n4 22. -The genera rhode of operation cftheentire machinewill now he briefly described:

lines inFig. 2, at which time the clutch, composedof the clutch members18 and 41, is closed. 'lhe rotation of the crank shaft 7 Vr henthemachine is in operation, the clutch lever 45 occupies vthe positionshovfn in full is'theirtransmittedthrugh the clutch and f through'the.spring 4'3to the crank disk 27. The-crank disk'recipr'ocates the cutterbar vthroughthe pitnian 29, as will be readily understood. When thelever is in this position, it isheld against. being returned to A openclutchpositon bymeans ofthe detent 48. rif hen an obstruction isfencountered hy the cutter bar, the spring 43 shortens and the tripjplate39 operates through the stem 59'@ and the opens the clutch, rij-additionto this auto-` 'matic means for opening the clutch, the grip lever 70may he operated so that it depresses the shoe 74 against the-free end ofthe detent- 'A a'cutter har, mechanism for transmitting arts connectedtheretvith'so as t o` depress the detent 48and release the lever. rlhespring;,47 then ulls the lever over and' llO driving force to saidcutter har, and automatic means for disengaging said mechanism when themotion of said cutter har is arrested. 2. ln a ino-ning machine, incombination,

a lcutter har, a clutch, means for driving said cutter` har through saidclutch, and means for opening said clutch when said cutter har isarrested. l

3. ln a mon ing machine, in coinhi-nation, acutter har, a shaft ,fordriving said cutter har,.having a flexible connection therewith,

.a clutch through vwhich said shaft lis driven,

and means for opening said'elutch actuated .through the medium of saidflexible connection. p

4;v In a niowingrnachine, in combination, a cutter har, a shaftconnected with said cute ter har for operating the saine, a secondshaftactuated by said spring adapted to drive said rst shaft, a helicalresilient member' connecting said shafts and through which the movementis transmitted, said resilient member being adapted to shorten when themotionof said cutter bar is arrested, and means controlled thereby forvAldisei'igaging the driving mechanism.

.5; ln a mowing machine, in combination, a cutter bar, helical spring,means fordriving said cutter bar through said helical spring',- a clutchthrough'which said helical spring is driven, said spring being adaptedto shortcn under the action of the driving force when said cutter baris` arrested, and means for opening said clutch.

' 6. In a mowing machine, in combination, a clutch, a spring tendingto-open said clutch, means for locking said clutch in a closed position,a cutter bar, means for driving said cutter bar through said clutch, andmeans for disengaging said locking means actuated bythe arrest of said'cutter bar.

7. ln a mowing machine, in combination,

- a ciutch, a clutch shaft, a cutter bar, a helical spring through whichsaid clutch shaft drives said 'cutter bar, said spring being adapted toshorten under the 'driving forcev when said cutter bar is arrested, amember rigid with one end of said s ring and adapted to be displacedwhen sai spring shortens, and means actuated by said member for openingsaid clutch.

8. ln a mowing machine, in combination, a clutch shaft, 'a clutchthrough which, said shaft is driven, a second shaft, 'a cutter barconnected' with said second shaft, a helical spring connecting saidsecond shaft wit-h said cutch shaft, a trip disk-mounted on said clutchshaft and adapted to b e displaced 1ongitudinally of said clutch shaftunder the driving force if said second shaft isprevented from rotating,and means actuated by said trip disk for opening said clutch.

9. In a mowing machine, in combination, a clutch, a clutch shaft mountedto slide longitudinally, a second shaft, a cutter barv driven from saidsecond shaft, a helical said outtcrlbar for releasing said lever from ispring connecting said clutch shaft with said second shaft, a tripdisk'rigidly attached to said clutch shaft, said clutch shaft beingvadapted to shift longitudinallyunder the action of the driving force ifsaid second shaft is arrested, and mechanism actuated by said i tripdisk for opening said clutch.

i0. ln a mowing machine, in combination, a clutch, a lever adapted toclose said clutch, a resilient detent adapted to hold said lever in theposition to close said clutch, a cutter bar, and means actuated by thearrest of said detent.

l1; ln a mowing machine, in combination, a clutch,A a cutter bar, meansfor driving said bar, to release said lever from said detent.

12. 4In a mowing machine, in combination,

'a clutch, a cutter bar driven through said `clutch, a lever adapted toopen and close said clutch, a resilientdetent extending in the directionin which said lever swings, and hav- .ing'a fiee end disposed near saidlever and aording means for locking said lever in the vposition to closesaid clutch, and means actuated by the arrest of said'cutter bar toreylease said lever from said detent.

13. ln a mowing machine, in combination,

'a clutch, a cutter bar driven through said clutch, a lever adapted toopen and close'said clutch, a resilient detent extendingin the directionin which vsaid lever'swings, and hav- Ainga free end disposed near saidlever and affording means for locking said lever in the position toclose said clutch, means actuated by the arrest of said cutter bar torelease said lever from said detent, and hand-operated means forreleasing 'said detent and independent of said `first releasing meansfor said l detent'.

14. In a mowing machine, in combination, a clutch shaft, a clutch, valever adapted to open or close said clutch, a detent adaptedto engagesaid lever to hold the same inthe position to opensaid clutch, a memberengaging said detent and adapted to move the sameto release saidlever, aspring through which the driving force` is transmitted be yon'd saidclutch, a cutter bar, a trip disk adapted to be displaced by theshortening of said spring, and means actuated by said trip disk' foractuating said member.

15. In a mowing machine, in combination, a clutch, a lever adapted toopen or close said clutch, a resilient detent adapted to hold said leverin the position to open said clutch,said detent consisting of a leafspring fixed at one end and free at the opposite end, a stirru carriedby said detent' at the free end thereo a rocker engaging said stirrupand adapted to draw the same out ofengagement with. 115 said lever, aclutch shaft, a second shaft, a cutter bar driven by said seconi shaft,a` spring connecting said shafts and adapted to i shorten under thedriving force when said cutter'bar is arrested, a trip disk carriedb`y120 said clutch shaft and adapted to be displacei longitudinally of saidshaft when said spring shortens, and means for actuating said'roclrerfrom, said trip disk to release said lever.

lo. In a mowing machine, in combination, a rotatable clutch member, aclutch shaft coaxial therewith, a slidable clutch member adapted torotate said shaft and cooperating with said rst clutch member, a leveraotumeans actuated by said trip Adisk for opening 10 ating said secondclutch member, a second said clutch.

shaft, a spring connecting said second shaft 'In testimony whereof Ihave signed, my- With said clutch shaft for driving the former, name tothis specification in the presence of a cutter bar driven from saidsecond shaft, a two subscribing. Witnesses. A

trip disk attached rigidly to said clutch shaft ALPHONSE M. 'LEO-NI. andadagted to be displaced lon itudinally Witnesses: therewit under theaction of t e drivin `ALDO BOLOGNESI,

force when said cutter bar is arrested, an ALFRED BOLOGNESI.

